Prior to the start of the Sept. 7 village board meeting, trustees held an information hearing for the benefit of residents who may have had questions on the upcoming referendum regarding the fire department service award program. Residents will cast their vote Tuesday, Sept. 27, between noon and 9 p.m. at the recreation/pool building.

State legislation passed in 1989 established laws that, for the first time, permitted local governments to offer a service award program for their local fire and medical emergency volunteers contingent upon approval of the residents via a public referendum.

According to Fire Commissioner Kevin Greene, Floral Park deputy mayor, "The drive behind the service award program was to help the local volunteer departments attract new members as well as add an incentive to retain existing membership. With all of the new regulations pertaining to safety and training of firefighters and medical technicians, attracting new members, and more importantly, maintaining existing, or shall I say the experienced volunteers, is getting more difficult."

The Floral Park Fire Department, which provides fire protection and medical response 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, is 100 percent volunteer. Five companies comprise the department: Hook & Ladder Company; Alert Engine Company; Reliance Engine Company; Active Engine Company; and Rescue Company. Further, current membership is made up of 158 volunteers, who are always looking to increase membership.

The department responds to more than 1,200 alarms/medical calls each year. Commissioner Greene noted the response time from the time the alarm is activated until a vehicle is on the scene is three to four minutes. A fire alarm from the time it is activated until the time members are released to return home varies from 15 minutes to as long as five hours, depending on the nature of the alarm. The medical responder averages about one hour for each call from alarm activation until members are released, Commissioner Greene added.

In addition to alarms, the department provides standby duties at each of the firehouses during snow and other weather-related emergencies. The department averages approximately three to four standbys a year and usually they last overnight. Further, members participate in more than 9,000 hours a year in firematic, medical response and driver training.

Back in 1993, Floral Park residents supported and voted for the current service award program, which went into effect in 1994. The approved plan authorized an annual contribution by the village of $450 on behalf of each volunteer who earned the required service credit points, obtained by responding to calls and attending training/seminars, drills and meetings. In order to qualify, each volunteer must earn 50 points per year.

Although the program allowed for a $450 contribution, the original legislation put a cap on the amount of the annual contribution of $480 per volunteer. Legislation passed last September allowed for an increase of up to $700 per volunteer achieving the required points. Like the original law, a public referendum is required before any changes can be made to the existing program.

Back in 2004, the department formed a committee to review the new changes. The committee then made a presentation to the village board in December 2004. Trustees requested an actuarial study be performed to determine what financial impact the new changes would have on residents. As a result of the study, the board and fire department agreed upon a phase-in program to be presented to residents. Trustees adopted a resolution Aug. 16 of this year, proposing to increase the contribution in two phases - to $575 in 2006 and the maximum of $700 in 2007.

The referendum's purpose is to advise the public of the maximum cost based on full participation of the current membership of 158 volunteers. The current maximum annual contribution is 158 volunteers multiplied by $450, which equals $71,100.

The proposed new maximum contribution for service credit points earned in 2006 is 158 volunteers multiplied by $575, which equals $90,850.

The proposed new maximum contribution for service credit points earned in 2007 and thereafter is 158 volunteers multiplied by $700, which equals $110,600.

Maximum participation by volunteers would increase the village budget by $19,750 each year for the next two years. To fund this increase, the tax rate would increase by $1 per year for the fiscal years 2006-07 and 2007-08. The cost to the average taxpayer based on an assessment of $35,500 would be $3.55 each year.

The referendum, of which residents will vote on Sept. 27, will contain only one proposition to consider - to approve an amendment to the current service award program by increasing the annual contribution.

"Our volunteer fire department provides a critical emergency service to our village," Commissioner Greene concluded. "I ask that you show your support by getting out to vote on Sept. 27."